Near Birmingham (South Yardley) test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 25 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 32 navigation steps.
This is an independent 62.0 km practice loop near Birmingham (South Yardley) test centre, taking roughly 45 min to drive. It is NOT an official DVSA examiner route, the DVSA does not publish those, but it uses the same local roads and junction types an examiner is likely to choose.
Along the way you'll meet Clock Roundabout, Stonebridge Island and Coleshill Interchange. Knowing the approach, lane and exit at each one before you arrive is the difference between a planned manoeuvre and a last-second reaction, and last-second reactions are where avoidable faults come from.
On this route you’ll practise multiple roundabouts, dual-carriageway joins, national-speed roads, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads and independent driving. Driving it a few times before your test builds the muscle memory that frees up attention for observation and decision-making on the day.
The loop is anchored by 20 catalogued landmarks, including schools, pubs, churches and shops, so you can navigate it from recognisable features rather than a memorised turn list. Rehearsing it in this way means that on test day the area already feels familiar, and your attention is free for the traffic rather than the map.
Whatever the route, your practical test follows the same national shape: an eyesight check, a couple of vehicle-safety questions, around forty minutes of general driving, one reversing manoeuvre chosen by the examiner, and roughly twenty minutes of independent driving following signs or a sat-nav. Practising on roads like these is how you make each of those elements feel routine rather than new.
Treat this route as practice, not a script. The value is not in repeating one fixed sequence but in getting comfortable with the road types, speed changes and junction patterns of the area around Birmingham (South Yardley) test centre, so that whatever order your examiner chooses on the day, none of it is unfamiliar. Drive it a few times, focus on smooth observation and planning, and it becomes one more stretch of road you already know, which is exactly the kind of preparation that turns nerves into confidence.
If you are practising with a supervising driver rather than an instructor, take it steadily: agree the manoeuvre spots in advance, keep to a comfortable pace, and stop to talk through anything that felt rushed. And remember the basics that apply on every road, mirrors before any change of speed or direction, signals in good time, and a following distance that gives you room to react. Those habits travel with you long after the test is passed.
What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.
This route helps you practise:
Road mix
The full 104-step drive on real, named roads (about 62.0 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north on Clay Lane.
Clay Lane727 m
Turn left onto A45/Coventry Road.
A4595 m
Move left.
347 m
Enter Swan Island and take the 4th exit onto A45/Coventry Road.
Swan Island187 m
Exit the roundabout onto A45/Coventry Road.
A45578 m
Take the exit on the right.
62 m
Turn right onto A45/Coventry Road.
A45171 m
Turn left onto Clay Lane.
Clay Lane913 m
Turn left to stay on Clay Lane.
Clay Lane199 m
Turn left onto Bosworth Road.
Bosworth Road326 m
Turn left onto Barn Lane.
Barn Lane802 m
Turn right onto Lyndon Road.
Lyndon Road523 m
Turn left onto Ulleries Road.
Ulleries Road629 m
Turn left onto Colesbourne Road.
Colesbourne Road163 m
Turn left onto Daylesford Road.
Daylesford Road456 m
Turn right onto Campden Green.
Campden Green390 m
Turn left to stay on Campden Green.
Campden Green109 m
Turn right onto Melton Avenue.
Melton Avenue103 m
Turn right onto Evenlode Road.
Evenlode Road108 m
Turn left onto Colesbourne Road.
Colesbourne Road504 m
Turn right onto Ulleries Road.
Ulleries Road145 m
Turn left onto Moordown Avenue.
Moordown Avenue235 m
Turn left onto Hobs Meadow.
Hobs Meadow360 m
Turn left onto Hobs Moat Road.
Hobs Moat Road21 m
Turn right.
13 m
Turn left onto Hobs Moat Road/B425.
Hobs Moat Road554 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hobs Moat Road/B425.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hobs Moat Road/B425.
Hobs Moat Road479 m
Turn right onto A45/Coventry Road. Continue on A45.
A456.5 km
Take the Stonebridge Island exit.
493 m
Enter Stonebridge Island and take the 1st exit onto A452/Chester Road.
Stonebridge Island14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A452/Chester Road.
A4521.4 km
Keep right to take A446/Stonebridge Road.
A4462.3 km
Enter Coleshill Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto A446/Stonebridge Road.
Coleshill Interchange245 m
Exit the roundabout onto A446/Stonebridge Road.
A446330 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A446/Stonebridge Road.
82 m
Exit the roundabout onto A446/Stonebridge Road.
A446219 m
Keep right to take B4117.
B4117449 m
Turn left onto Hall Walk.
Hall Walk207 m
Move right onto Stonebridge Road.
Stonebridge Road377 m
Turn right onto Green Lane.
Green Lane43 m
Turn right onto Castle Drive.
Castle Drive426 m
Turn left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane184 m
Turn left onto Stonebridge Road.
Stonebridge Road378 m
Turn right onto Hall Walk.
Hall Walk26 m
Turn left onto A446/Stonebridge Road.
A446776 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A446/Stonebridge Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A446/Stonebridge Road.
A446333 m
Enter Coleshill Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto A446/Stonebridge Road.
Coleshill Interchange242 m
Exit the roundabout onto A446/Stonebridge Road.
A4463.7 km
Enter Stonebridge Island and take the 3rd exit onto A45.
Stonebridge Island178 m
Exit the roundabout onto A45.
A45248 m
Keep right to stay on A45.
A456.3 km
Turn left onto Wells Road.
Wells Road153 m
Turn right onto Valley Road.
Valley Road274 m
Turn left onto Old Lode Lane.
Old Lode Lane734 m
Turn right onto Merevale Road.
Merevale Road293 m
Turn left.
393 m
Turn right.
12 m
Turn left onto Hobs Moat Road/B425.
Hobs Moat Road42 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Old Lode Lane.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Old Lode Lane.
Old Lode Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto Valley Road.
Valley Road273 m
Turn left onto Wells Road.
Wells Road153 m
Turn left onto A45/Coventry Road. Continue on A45.
A453.5 km
Move right.
97 m
Turn right onto Holder Road.
Holder Road6 m
Turn right onto A45/Coventry Road. Continue on A45.
A453.2 km
Turn left onto Sheaf Lane.
Sheaf Lane257 m
Turn right onto Rectory Park Road.
Rectory Park Road228 m
Turn right onto Coalway Avenue.
Coalway Avenue187 m
Turn left onto Goldthorne Avenue.
Goldthorne Avenue212 m
Turn left onto Trysull Avenue.
Trysull Avenue471 m
Turn right onto Cranes Park Road.
Cranes Park Road622 m
Turn left onto Mapledene Road.
Mapledene Road102 m
Turn left onto Berryfield Road.
Berryfield Road411 m
Turn left onto Parkdale Road.
Parkdale Road211 m
Turn right onto Cranes Park Road.
Cranes Park Road425 m
Move left onto Church Road.
Church Road527 m
Turn right onto A45/Coventry Road. Continue on A45.
A453.2 km
Turn left onto Forest Road.
Forest Road98 m
Move left onto Waterloo Road.
Waterloo Road401 m
Turn right onto Stockfield Road/A4040.
Stockfield Road91 m
Turn left onto Mansfield Road.
Mansfield Road224 m
Turn right onto Yardley Road/B4146.
Yardley Road748 m
Turn left onto The Avenue.
The Avenue751 m
Turn right to stay on The Avenue.
The Avenue102 m
Turn left onto Lincoln Road.
Lincoln Road555 m
Turn right onto Barn Lane.
Barn Lane359 m
Turn left onto Amberley Road.
Amberley Road253 m
Turn left onto Wagon Lane.
Wagon Lane268 m
Turn right onto Wells Green Road.
Wells Green Road103 m
Turn left onto Keswick Road.
Keswick Road304 m
Turn right onto Wells Green Road.
Wells Green Road101 m
Turn right to stay on Wells Green Road.
Wells Green Road493 m
Turn right onto Wagon Lane.
Wagon Lane398 m
Turn left onto A45/New Coventry Road. Continue on A45.
A452.2 km
Move right.
97 m
Turn right onto Holder Road.
Holder Road6 m
Turn right onto A45/Coventry Road. Continue on A45.
A451.6 km
Take the exit on the right.
72 m
Turn right onto Gilbertstone Avenue.
Gilbertstone Avenue842 m
Turn right onto Clay Lane.
Clay Lane59 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Birmingham (South Yardley) · Route 10 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.
These are the real named features along the loop, straight from our route catalogue. Use them to recognise where you are and to anticipate the hazard each one brings, not to memorise a fixed order.
Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Clock Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 34.4 km of this loop is dual carriageway. Build your speed on the slip road, take an effective rearward observation, and merge without forcing other traffic to brake.
Changing speed limits
Limits change across this route (20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 mph). Watch for repeater signs and adjust early, examiners mark you down for carrying the wrong speed into a new limit.
Residential streets
Narrow residential roads mean parked cars, pedestrians and reduced visibility. Cover the brake, keep your speed down and be ready to give way.
Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.
EBN Academy
Start near EBN Academy.
Journey's End
Continue to Journey's End.
Acrewood Nursery & Pre-school
Continue to Acrewood Nursery & Pre-school.
Mucky Pups Day Nursery
Continue to Mucky Pups Day Nursery.
St Mary's Parish Church
Continue to St Mary's Parish Church.
Clive Mark Schoolwear
Continue to Clive Mark Schoolwear.
Clock Roundabout
Continue to Clock Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Stonebridge Island
Continue to Stonebridge Island, taking the junction with good observation.
Coleshill Interchange
Continue to Coleshill Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Spar
Continue to Spar.
Buttercups & Dandelions Day Nursery
Continue to Buttercups & Dandelions Day Nursery.
Manarat Foundation
Continue to Manarat Foundation.
South Yardley Methodist Church
Continue to South Yardley Methodist Church.
Old Bill and Bull
Continue to Old Bill and Bull.
Three Horseshoes
Continue to Three Horseshoes.
Crane
Continue to Crane.
Church of St Thomas More
Continue to Church of St Thomas More.
Acocks Green Baptist Church
Continue to Acocks Green Baptist Church.
Hay Mills Congregational Church
Continue to Hay Mills Congregational Church.
Pickles
Finish back near Pickles, completing the loop.
6 roundabouts · 18 turns · 3 sets of lights
10 roundabouts · 13 turns · 4 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 17 turns · 2 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 16 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 62.0 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Birmingham (South Yardley) test centre, not an official DVSA route.